Live concert on Ek Main Aur Ek Tu

After orchestrating a riveting finale for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005, director Gajendrra Siingh goes on to create history, yet again. It is the first time on Indian television that viewers get a chance to see their favourite two jodis perform with an entire string section of a large symphony orchestra of 60 musicians and a conductor.

The show moves to performances in Delhi and Kolkatta next week. The scores chosen for the jodis are really excellent and appropriate. Achieving a tonal characteristic that is effective and pleasing to the player's and viewer's ear is something of an art, and the musicians from the Cine Musicians Association achieved just that on Ek Main Aur Ek Tu.

Ecstatic and emotional, Siingh speaks to Tellychakkar.com just after shooting both the episodes to be aired this week. "This has been a dream come true for me. I have been planning this for years but, somehow just could get it together. The orchestra, the music selected, set design and the performances of the two jodis will surely have viewers hungry for more. I am on top of the world.

"Music director Ismail Darbar appears as a guest judge on the Thursday episode and our final two jodis also get a chance to sing with him, giving them a real time sense of what the future can hold for them. The feedback I have received from those who have been witness to the recording is hugely positive."

The stage was set to accommodate these musicians playing instruments like the violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, cymbal, bells, snare drum, bass drum, drum kit, trumpet, flute and saxophone. Siingh brings many different rhythms and melodies together as only he can. The visual effects on the sets, only adds to the experience.

Music director Anand Sharma speaks to us on how he and the EMET team managed to get this show organized. "We have been in touch with the messenger, Rasikji, who is known in the industry to handle musicians from the Association. The entire process of getting the live orchestra was tedious, but the pleasure one attains at being able to hear them is tremendous. Today, we are a generations of keyboard users and to hear strings played by such senior musicians from the industry is an experience to cherish. We selected fourteen songs that highlighted the use of string instruments. We have been rehearsing last week to get everything right."

Watching the orchestra perform every song, both Hariharan and Leslie Lewis also remarked that the singers should feel honoured to have these esteemed musicians play while they sing.

The conductor of the orchestra, Chandan made sure that that no one left the show disappointed. His father, Kishore, is a violinist and part of the troupe. Playing since 1960 for legendary singers and composers like Naushad, Kalyanji, Lata Mangeshkar, Rafi, among others, he speaks of his experience on EMET.

Says he, "Today, it is sad that strings are rarely used. Earlier, singers like Lata and Rafi would rehearse with us and if in the final take, a mistake was made, they would sing the entire song all over again. Today, with the usage of technology, one can pick up from the last perfect line. Of course, the depth and feeling is not the same like earlier times. It was nice meeting up with old friends and we hope that television audiences will recognize our skills and give us many more similar opportunities."

The Thursday episode has the jodis sing the latest Hindi film hit songs, all of which use string instruments. The jodis sang Ishq bina kya, Suraj hua maddham, Ankho ki gustakhiya, Zara sa jhoom lu main, Baazigar o baazigar and the final song was sung with Darbar. It is from the title song of Subhash Ghai's film Kisna.

Ismail Darbar, apart from being a major part of the earlier series, is a renowned music composer and known for using classical music in Hindi films. His observations after the jodis sang each was apt, and he spared no words in admonishing the jodis when they erred.

The episode also had Ghulam Mustafa Khan Saheb accepting the ousted jodi of Rajeev and Sanchali as his disciples to learn from him and make a mark in playback singing in the industry, like his students Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and Shaan. Rajeev said, "We are lucky to get this opportunity. When we were voted out, we felt it was the end of the world for us. One door closed to open another and our sincerity to our craft has paid off. Being Guruji students is a wish that most new singers have, but rarely get the chance."

In an age where witnessing experienced musicians playing string instruments to evergreen hits from the Hindi Film industry is a rarity, Zee has definitely managed a coup and presents a treat for all music lovers this week on Ek Main Aur Ek Tu. The professionalism of the members of the orchestra is outstanding, and the experience is magical.

Source - http://www.tellychakkar.com/y2k6/jun/13june/news_ek.php